Workman&#39;s time-recorder.



N0. 636,246. Patented Nov. 7, 1899. J. C. ENGLISH.

WORKMANS TIME RECORDER.

(Application filed Apr. 11, 1898.)

4 Sheets-Sheet L (No Model.)

QZIW/MQWL L n n, Q Wm No. 636,246. Patented Nov. 7, I899. J. C. ENGLISH.

WORKIANS TIME RECORDER.

(Application filed Apr. 11, 1898.) (N0 M L) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Wine wa //1 [6%00. 6W 12 No. 636,246. Patented Nov. 7, I899. J. C. ENGLISH.

WORKMAN'S TIME RECORDER.

(Applicltion filed A i. 11, 189B.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

us NORRI5 PETERS co. PHOT No. 636,246. Patented Nov. 7, I899. J. C. ENGLlSH.

WORKMAN'S TIME RECORDER.

(Application filed Apr. 11, 1898.)

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

ma cums PUERs co PHOTO-LITHOY, WASHINGTON, w. c

UNITED STATES Y PATENT ()FFICE.

JOHN C. ENGLISH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

WORKMANS TIME-RECORDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,246, dated November 7', 1899.

Application filed April 1 1, l 8 9 8.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN C. ENGLISH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented anew and useful Improvement in WVorkmens Time-Recorders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a workmans timerecorder in which a printing-platen is under the control of a check to select a number or symbol to be recorded, which number or symbol selected shall correspond with the particular structure of the check under the control of which the printing-platen is for the time being placed.

The object is to produce a recorder which shall be reliable no matter how rapidly the checks be deposited and which shall be simple and durable.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view of the recorder in side elevation, the casing being shown in section and the working parts occupying the positions which they normally assume before they are acted upon by a check. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the positions of the parts after they have been set in operation and just before the printing takes place. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section in the plane of the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section along the plane of the line at 40f Fig. 3, showing the working parts in top plan. Fig. 5 is a view in detail of the movable section of the chute, showing it in section and in connection therewith the ends of two of the platens in the positions selected by a check in the chute. Fig. 6 is a view in detail of the delaygear. Fig. 7 is a view in detail, showing the faces of the printing-platens as they appear in Fig. 2 in position to print the number 56. Fig. 8 is a view of a check in side elevation. Fig. E) is an end view of the same, and Fig. 10 is a View in side elevation of another check having wards in its ends differing from those in the check shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

The casing is denoted by A. It is here shown as of oblong rectangular shape, but may be made of any shape found convenient for the purposes in hand. Achute, consisting in the present instance of a fixed section 13, having erial No. 677,127. (No model.)

its mouth open to the top of the casingA, and a movable section (denoted as a whole by 13'') extends to such a depth within the casing as to bring the movable section into a position where it may conveniently coact with other parts to be hereinafter described.

The movable chute-section B consists in the present instance of a pair of chambers b I), located upon opposite sides of a central axle 12 with which the section B is caused to rotate. The chambers 19 b are connected at their opposite ends by disks or plates b b", the top plate b resting in close proximity to the under face of a stationary plate Z2 at the bottom end of the fixed portion B of the chute and the bottom plate 19 resting in close proximity to the upper face of a fixed plate Z), the plates b and I) being held in position by means of bolts 19 b and the whole fixed to and spaced from the side of the casing by means of the extended portions of the plates 19 b, secured to the side of the casing by screws 1) Z9 (See Fig. 3.) The chambers 12 Z) have a cross-section similar to that of the chute-section B and are so arranged as to come in alinement with the chute-section B one of them at each half'revolution of the chute-section B, and when so alined a check is free to slide from the section B into the chambers 17 b the moment an alinement with the section Bis effected, and the check is prevented from passing through and out of the chambers Z) Z) when in alinement with the section B because of the plate I), which will only permit a check to pass out of the chamher I) or Z) when the latter has completed a half-revolution from its point of alinement with the section B and has been brought by such movement into alinement with a discharge-opeuing I) in the plate, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Attention is particularly called to the shape of the interior passage in the chute B in crosssection, as indicated in Fig. 4, which shows the passage-way tapered from one edge toward the other, the check, as shown in Fig. 9, having a cross-section corresponding thereto, and hence requiring that the check be entered into the chute with its narrow edge in one direction only. The wards at the opposite ends of the check, as shown in Figs. 8 and 10, are, however, made similar, so that either end of the check may be entered into the chute at pleasure so long as the narrowed edge of the check is made to correspond with the narrowed edge of the passage-way in the chute.

The movable section B of the chute is caused to rotate when released by means of a motor, consisting in the present instance of a pair of spring-actuated gear-wheels G C, arranged to simultaneously act upon a pinion 0 of a shaft 0, supported in suitable bearings in the motor-frame D. The shaft 0 also has fixed thereon a bevel-gear 0 which intermeshes with a bevel-gear c on a shaft 0, through which motion is imparted to the rotary section of the chute, the printing-platens, and the means for impressing the record upon the record-receiving strip.

The shaft 0' is supported in suitable bearings and extends in the present instance along within the casing A below the rotary section of the chute. It has fixed to rotate therewith a bevel gear-pinion 0 which meshes with a bevel gear-pinion c on the end of a short upright shaft E. The shaft E has fixed thereon a disk 0', provided with an eccentric section 6 the latter being provided with laterally-extended teeth 0 e for operating the star-wheel F.

The star-wheel F has the faces of its teeth f made concave, as shown at f, to fit the periphery of the disk e, so as to cause thewheel F to become locked against movement during the time that the periphery of the disk 6 is in contact therewith, the disk 6 being cut away at points radially opposite the teeth 6 6 so as to permit the wheel F to be turned one tooth by the engagement of each of the teeth 6 c with the spaces between the teeth of the star-wheel as they are brought consecutively in engagement therewith by the rotary movement of the disk 6. The star-wheel F, with its operating-disk e, I have chosen to callforconvenience delay or dwell gear, because of the delay between the successive movements of the wheel F.

The star-wheel F is fixed to rotate with the axle or spindle b which carries with it in its rotary movement the movable section B of the chute, so that as the shaft 0 is rotated under the impulse of its actuating-wheels O C it will rotate the upright shaft E, and it in turn, through the delay or dwell gear, will impart to the movable section B of the chute a step-by-step movement, each step in the presentinstance amounting to a quarter-revolution of the section B.

The means which I have herein shown for setting the wheels 0 O in motion are constructed and arranged as follows: A disk G is provided with laterally-extended pins 9 at suitable intervals thereon and is fixed to rotate with a shaft g, in the present instance in on the shaft 0. From this it follows that the wheels 0 C will be locked against movement under the tension of their actuating-springs so long as the disk G is prevented from rotating. A catch g is pivoted at g and is connected at g with one arm of a trip-lever g fulcrumed at y The opposite arm of the lever is provided with a toe g-"Qwhich extends up through the plate b into position to be pushed downwardly by the end of a check when thelatter is inserted in one of the chambers Z) Z) of the movable chute-section. The arrangement is such that when the toe g" of the trip-lever is depressed to a level with the plate b it will lift the catch out of engagement with the pin g on the face of the wheel G, and the latter being thus set free the motor will be allowed to continue its action until the disk G shall again have been arrested by the engagement of the catch 9' with a succeeding pin g.

The number of printing-platens which I have shown in the present embodiment of my invention is two; but this number may be more or less than two, as the capacity of the machine for any particular purpose may require. lVith two printing-platens, each provided with a series of figures from 0 to 9, inclusive, all numbers from 0 to 90, inclusive, may be formed in position to print by the different relative arrangements of the two printing-platens. The printingplatens are denoted by H H and are mounted to rock on a common pivot-pin h. They are located side by side, and their printingfaces, (denoted by 7L hi) containing the series of numerals, are made in are shape, so that when adjusted for printing, in the present instance with the character or characters to be printed in the horizontal plane of their pivot h, the pressure of the record-receiving strip along that plane will serve to make an impress of such character or characters and no other character or characters on their faces. The opposite ends of the rocking platens H 11 extend beneath the edge of the plate Z) at a point in the present instance a quadrants distance from the point where the check-receiving chamber I) or Z) is in alinement with the chute-section B, and at this point the plate I) is cut away to permit the ends of the printing-platens H H to pass upwardly through it. At points directly beneath the cheek-receiving chambers b I) of the rotary section B of the chute the disk Z) and the lower ends of the walls of the chambers Z) Z) are also cut away, as clearly shown at 11 (see Figs. 1 and 3,) so that when the cut-away portion 19 is brought into position to register with the cut-away portion of the plate Z) the ends of the rocking platens II H are permitted to engage freely the lower end of a check seated within the chamber 12 or b.

The check illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 is denoted byI and that shown in Fig. 10 by I. In Fig. 3 the check I is shown in the chamber 1) and in position to engage the ends of the rocking platens H H for the purpose of selecting a number with which the check I is identified, in the present instance the number 56. The Wardst't" in the opposite ends of the check I areof such relative depths and of such widths that they will permit the end of the platen H to swing farther up into the end of the check to the bottom of the ward 1 than the platen H is permitted to swing to reach the bottom of the ward t", and the rocking platens will assume the posit-ion shown in Fig. 2, which is such that, as shown in Fig. 7, the character 5 on the face of the platen H is brought into a horizontal line with the character 6 on the face of the platen H, and these characters 5 and 6 will at the same time occupy a position to receive the impression when the record-receiving strip is swung into engagement with the printingheads. The printing-platens H H have a normal tendency under the influence of gravity and also under the tension of a light spring h to rock in a direction to lower their printingheads and lift their opposite ends into engagement with the end of a check whenever they are permitted so to do. The said printingplatens are positively rocked in a direction opposed to the force of gravity and to the tension of their actuating-springs by means of a cam K, fixed to rotate with the shaft 0, which cam engages a roller 76 on the lower end of a vertically-reciprocating bar supported to slide freely in Ways k fixed to the casing. The vertically-reciprocating bar 7t has an offset at 76 which engages the under sides of the platens H H when the bar 7c is forced upwardly by the cam K, and thereby carries with it in its upward movement the platens H H to a height sufficient to lower theirends at the check-chute out of the path of the rotary chute-seotion B. The cam K is so timed, however, that whenever a chamber Z) or 1) containing a check is brought into position above the ends of the platens H H the lifting-bar 7s will be dropped into the position shown in Fig. 2, so as to permit the platens H H to freely seat themselves in the wards in the end of the check, and thus select the number to be printed, which shall correspond to that particular check.

At L there is shown conventionally a clock of any well-known-or approved form, carrying type-wheels, (denoted by Z Z,) the onerepresenting hours and the other minutes, and so located with respect to the printing-faces of the platens H H that the hour and minute will at all times be presented in printing position to have their record made simultaneously with the record of the number corresponding to any check which may be for the time being in position to control the printingplatens. The particular means for operating the hour and minute wheels Z Z by the clockmovement forms no part of my present invention and may be of any well-known or approved form.

The means for supporting and pressing the record-receiving strip into engagement with the particular characters for making the record are constructed and arranged as follows: A suitable rocking or vibrating frame M is pivoted at m to be swung toward and away from the faces of the printing platens and wheels. It is operated by means of a cam m, fixed to rotate with the shaft 0 which cam engages a roller m on an arm m fixed to and extending at an angle away from the frame M. As the arm m is depressed by the cam m the frame M will be rocked toward the printing-faces and the said frame will be promptly withdrawn from the printing-faces when the cam m will permit it by means of a retracting-springm The record-receiving strip, which may be a strip of paper, (denoted by N,) is drawn from a supply-rolln by means of a ratchet-wheel n, fixed to rotate with a receiving or storage roller n and actuated by a push-pawl n pivoted to the lower end of the rocking frame M. The record-receiving strip N as it passes from the supply-roll 71 extends around a guide-roller n thence to and around a guide-roller n on the frame M near its pivot, thence up and along the frame over a guide-roller n at the top of the frame, thence beneath a roller 47, adjacent to the impression-pad m on the frame M, thence over the face of the impression-pad m thence under a roller a below the impression-pad m and corresponding to the roller n thence over the face of a guide-roller m thence beneath a guide-roller 07, near the pivot of the frame M, and thence to the receivin g or storage roller 97?. As the frame M is rocked away from the printing-faces the push-pawl n engages a tooth on the ratchet n and rotates it one step, thereby feeding the record-receiving strip along one space over the face of the impression-pad m When the frame M is swung toward the printing-faces to receive an impression, the push-pawl n will be permitted to slide freely back over the face of a tooth on the ratchet n in position to engage a succeeding tooth. Simultaneously with the rearward action of the frame M an inking-roller O is brought into action as follows: The roller 0 is carried in the ends of a pair of arms 0, pivoted at 0. An arm 0 extending at an angle to the arm 0 and fixed to rock therewith, is connected with the swinging frame M by means of a link 0 The movement of the frame M away from the printing-faces will thus cause the arm 0 to swing downwardly, and in so doing it will carry the face of the inking-roller 0 along the printingfaces of the platens and type-wheels, and when the frame M is forced toward the prin tin g-faces to make an impression the arm 0 will be promptly swung upwardly into the position shown in Fig. 2 out of the way of the frame M before the latter reaches the printing-faces.

The inking-roller O is conveniently placed under tension, tending to adjust itself to the type which are to make the impression, by mounting the said inking-roller in the elongated slots 0 in the ends of the arms 0, and a spring 0 fixed at one end to the arm, has its free end engaged with the journals of the roller 0, tending to press it to the outer extremities of the slots 0 but permitting it to yield against the tension of the spring to accommodate itself to the surface against which it is forced.

In operation suppose a check-for example, the check I-to be dropped into the mouth of the chute B and into the chamberb of the section B of the chute, the latter being assumed to be in alinement with the section B when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 1. The weight of the check, acting upon the toe g of the lever 9 will lift the catch g out of engagement with the pin 9 on the face of the disk G, and the motor will thereby be released, as hereinbefore described. The action of the motor will, through the medium of the shaft 0 upright shaft E, and gear 6' e F, rotate the movable section B of the chute a quarter-revolution, thereby bringing the chamber b,with the check I therein ,into the po sition shown in Figs. 3 and 4:, where its lower end may be engaged by the printing-platens H H. The same movement of the shaft 0 which turns the rotary section B of the chute a quarter-revolution also turns the cam K into the position shown in Fig. 2, permitting the lift-bar 7a to drop out of engagement with the printing-platens, and during the second quarter-revolution of the shaft 0", while the wheel F is delayed by the periphery of the disk 6, the ends of the printing-platens H H are permitted to seat in the wards 2' t" in the end of the check, and thereby select the number to be printed corresponding to the check.

This second quarter-revolution of the shaft 0 will also by means of the cam m gradually force the impression-pad m toward the type which has been selected by the check and finally press the reeord-receivin g strip against.

the said type and against the type on the hour and minute hands which indicate the time at the moment the record is made. The moment this has taken place the cam m escapes from the roller m and the frame M, carrying the impression-pad, is permitted to promptly recede under the tension of its retracting-spring m. The third quarter-revolution of the shaft 0 by the action of the cam K will lift the bar It, and with it the printing-platens H H, into the position shown in Fig. 1 to free their ends from the wards in the end of the check and leave the section B of the check-chute free to rotate. The cam K will hold the printingplatens in this position during the completion of the rotary movement of the shaft 0, which by the engagement of the pin c with the starwheel F will rotate the star-wheel another quarter revolution, thereby bringing the check in the chamber 1) over the opening Z) in the plate I) to be discharged and at the same time bringing the chamber Z) into alinement with the chute-section B, ready to receive within it the next succeeding check which may have been or may be introduced into the chute B. At this moment the disk G has been rotated to a point where a suceeeding pin 9 will engage the catch g", and the action of the motor will cease. If, however, a succeeding check was retained in the chute B, ready to drop into the chamber 1) the moment it came in alinement with the chute-section B, the stopping of the machine will be only for an instant and scarcely appreciable, if at all, as the succeeding check will promptly trip the catch g and the operation will be repeated in the manner hereinabove described. The succeeding check I, for example, will be provided with wards of greater or lesser depth or bearing diiferent relations to one another than the wards in the check I, and hence will select a different number or character corresponding to the check when brought into position to engage the printing-platens H II.

No matter how many checks be placed in the chute B and no matter how short the illterval between the introduction of one check and a succeeding check there can be no possible confusion in the printing, as the rotary movement of the section B of the chute to carry a check in one of the chambers b or b into position to select the number or character to be printed promptly cuts oil the check or column of checks in the chute-section B and prevents them from interfering in any manner with the perfect operation of the check which has been carried by the section B out of alinementwith the column. Furthermore, the moment a check within one of the chambers Z; or b is carried by the section B out of alinement with the chute-section B it is prevented from being lifted within the chamber 1) or b by the plate Z1 so that the ends of the printing-platens may be forced to seat accurately in the wards in the lower end of the check without any liability of lifting the check out of position within the chamber.

The recorder will continue to make a record of each check that has been placed within the chute-section B and when the last check has been recorded will cease to operate because the cateh g is in engagement with one of the pins g on the disk G.

\Vhat I claim is- 1. In combination, a movable printingplaten, means for taking an impression from the printing-platen and means for directing a check into engagement with the printingplaten, the said printing-platen being under the control of the check to select for printing a symbol or character independent of the check but corresponding to a predetermined structure of check, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination, a movable printingplaten, means for taking an impression from the printing-platen and a check-chute for bringing a check into position to engage the printing-platen, the printing-platen being under the control of the check within the chute to select for printing a number or symbol independent of the check but corresponding to a predetermined structure of check, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination, a check-chute, a check fitted to slide within the chute, a rocking printing-platen, means for operating it and means fortakin g an impression from the printing-platen, the said printing-platen being under the control of the check to select for printing a number or symbol independent of the check but corresponding to a predetermined structure of check, substantially as set forth.

4. In combination, a check-chute compris ing a stationary portion and a movable portion, means for moving the movable portion into and out of alinement with the stationary portion, a printing-platen, means for operatingit and means for taking an impression from the printing-platen, the said printing-platen being under the control of a check Within the movable portion of the check-chute to select a figure or symbol corresponding to the check, substantially as set forth.

5. In combination, a check-chute, arocking printing-platen and means for operating it, the said rocking platen being under the control of a check Within the chute to determine the amount of its tilting movement, substantially as set forth.

6. In combination, a check-chute and a plurality of rocking printing-platens and means for operating the platens, the said platens being temporarily under the control of a check Within the chute to determine their relative tilting movements, substantially as set forth.

7. In combination, a check-chute comprising a fixed section and a movable section, the movable section being provided with a plurality of check-receiving chambers, means for bringing the said check-receiving chambers successively into alinement with the fixed chute-section, one or more rocking printingplatens and means for moving the said printing-platens into and out of engagement with the end of a check Whileheld Within one of the chambers of the movable chute-section to select a number or symbol corresponding to the check, substantially as set forth.

8. In combination, a check-chute comprising a fixed section and a movable section, amotor for operating the movable section, means under the control of a check within the movable chute-section for starting the motor, delay or dwell gear actuated by the said motor for operating the movable chute-section at intervals and one or more printing-platens under the control of a check within the movable chute-section to select a number or symbol corresponding to the check, substantially as set forth.

9. In combination, a check-chute having an opening tapered in cross-section, a check having a crosssection corresponding to the opening in the chute and provided with one or more Wards in its end, rocking printing-platens located in position to engage the end of the check while the latter is in the chute, means for moving the printing-platens out of engagement with the check and means for taking an impression from the said printing platen or platens, substantially as set forth.

10. In combination, a check-chute comprising a fixed portion and a rotary portion, the rotary portion being provided with aplurality of check-receiving chambers, a dischargeopening located out of alinement With the fixed portion of the chute, means for bringing the check-receiving chambers successively into alinement with the fixed chute-section and with the discharge-opening and printingplatens under the control of a check Within one of the check-receiving chambers at a point intermediate of its alinement with the fixed portion of the check-chute and the dischargeopening, substantially as set forth.

11. In combination, independently-rocking printing-platens each provided with a series of characters on its face, means for moving a strip of record-receiving material into and out of contact with the faces of the printing-platens, a check provided With Wards adapted to receive the ends of the rocking printing-platens and means for carrying the check into position to engage the said printing-platens to select the number corresponding to the check, substantially as set forth.

12. In combination,a check-chute, comprising a fixed section and a rotary section, the rotary section being provided with a check-receiving chamber, means for moving the checkreceiving chamber into and out of alinement with the fixed chute-section, a top and bottom plate forming a closure for the opposite ends of the check-receivin g chamber through out a portion of its rotary movement, a dis charge-opening in the bottom plate in position to aline with the check-receiving cham her during the rotary movement of the section and printing-platens under the control of a check Within the chamber to select a number or symbol corresponding to the check, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two Witnesses, this 6th day of April, 1898.

JOHN C. ENGLISH.

Witnesses:

FREDK. HAYNES, O. S. SUNDGREN. 

